San Diego State slips in Mountain West power ratings after loss at Nevada

Nevada receiver Brendan O'Leary-Orange runs through the San Diego State defense for a touchdown during Saturday night's game in Reno. Nev. The Wolf Pack beat the Aztecs 28-24, snapping San Diego State's six-game winning streak and knocking the Aztecs down a notch in our weekly Mountain West power ratings.(Photo11: Tom R. Smedes, AP)

San Diego State’s string of close wins came to an end Saturday night in Reno, Nevada, where the Aztecs were held scoreless in the second half of a 28-24 loss to Nevada.

Since dropping its season opener at Stanford, the Aztecs had won six straight, the last five by margins of seven or fewer points.

With the loss, the Aztecs drop a spot in our weekly Mountain West power ratings, falling to No. 4 behind the Boise State team they beat just two weeks ago. Boise State won its game two weeks ago in Reno by four points, 31-27.

Fresno State and Utah State took care of business by dispatching their opponents to remain unbeaten in league play and on top of the West and Mountain divisions, respectively.

Here’s a look at this week’s complete MW power ratings:

1. Fresno State (7-1, 4-0 MW)

Last week: No. 1. Quarterback Marcus McMaryion threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns, and Ronnie Rivers ran for 125 yards and one score on 11 carries as the Bulldogs beat visiting Hawaii 50-20 for their sixth straight win. Next game: Saturday, 8:30 p.m., at UNLV (TV: CBSSN).

2. Utah State (7-1, 4-0 MW)

Last week: No. 2. Shaq Bond returned one of the Aggies’ four interceptions 100 yards for a touchdown, and quarterback Jordan Love threw for 448 yards and four touchdowns in a 61-19 win over visiting New Mexico. Next game: Nov. 10, 2 p.m., vs. San Jose State (Online: Facebook.com, MWN on Stadium).

3. Boise State (6-2, 4-1 MW)

Last week: No. 4. Quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 399 yards and five touchdowns, and Alexander Mattison ran for 136 yards and one score for the Broncos in a 48-38 win at Air Force. Next game: Saturday, 8:15 p.m., vs. BYU (TV: ESPN2).

4. San Diego State (6-2, 3-1 MW)

Last week: No. 3. Ryan Agnew threw for three touchdowns but completed just 20 of 41 passes for 283 yards for the Aztecs in a loss at Nevada. San Diego State lost for the first time since its season opener at Stanford. Next game: Saturday, 8:15 p.m., at New Mexico (TV: ESPNU).

5. Nevada (5-4, 3-2 MW)

Last week: No. 5. Ty Gangi threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, and punter Quinton Conaway averaged 51.1 yards a kick with four punts downed inside the 20-yard line to help the Wolf Pack win a game of field position against San Diego State. Next game: Nov. 10, 8:30 p.m., vs. CSU (TV: ESPN2 or ESPNU).

6. Hawaii (6-4, 3-2 MW)

Last week: No. 6. Cole McDonald threw for 225 yards and one touchdown with one interception and added 62 rushing yards for the Rainbow Warriors in a loss at Fresno State, their third straight defeat after a 6-1 start. Next game: Saturday, 10 p.m., vs. Utah State (TV: Spectrum Sports Hawaii).

7. Wyoming (3-6, 1-4 MW)

Last week: No. 8. Quarterback Sean Chambers, a true freshman making his first start, threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and Nico Evans ran for 176 yards for the Cowboys in a 34-21 win at CSU. Next game: Saturday, noon, vs. San Jose State (TV: AT&T-RM).

8. Air Force (3-5, 1-4 MW)

Last week: No. 7. Quarterback Isaiah Sanders threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 97 yards and another score for the Falcons in their loss to visiting Boise State. Next game: Saturday, 10 a.m., at Army (TV: CBSSN).

9. CSU (3-6, 2-3 MW)

Last week: No. 9. Collin Hill, a sophomore making his first start in two years, threw for 333 yards for the Rams but was intercepted twice. The Rams were limited to just 20 rushing yards in a home loss to Border War rival Wyoming. Next game: Nov. 10, 8:30 p.m., at Nevada (TV: ESPN2 or ESPNU).

10. New Mexico (3-5, 1-3 MW)

Last week: No. 10. Quarterback Sheriron Jones was intercepted three times before being replaced by Coltin Gerhart, and the Lobos were limited to just 71 rushing yards in a loss at Utah State. Next game: Saturday, 8:15 p.m., vs. San Diego State (TV: ESPNU).

11. San Jose State (1-7, 3-4 MW)

Last week: No. 12. Josh Love threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns, and Tyler Nevens ran for 103 yards and one TD to lift the Spartans to a 50-37 win over visiting UNLV, their first victory since last year’s season finale vs. Wyoming. Next game: Saturday, noon, at Wyoming (TV: AT&T-RM).

12. UNLV (2-6, 0-4 MW)

Last week: No. 11. Max Gilliam threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns but was intercepted three times, including one that was returned for a touchdown, as the Rebels dropped their fifth straight game. Next game: Saturday, 8:30 p.m., vs. Fresno State (TV: CBSSN).

Follow reporter Kelly Lyell at twitter.com/KellyLyell and facebook.com/KellyLyell.news and listen to him talk CSU sports at 11:35 a.m. Thursdays on KFKA radio (AM 1310) and 10:45 a.m. Saturdays on Denver’s ESPN radio (AM 1600).